Basilica review may 2018

Holy Synod elects new bishops for Bessarabia and Romania

Archim. Timotei Bel, Assistant bishop to the Diocese of Maramureș and Sătmar (left), Bishop Antonie of Bălţi (middle) and Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia (right).

SOCIAL Romanian is second most common non-British nationality in UK ▷3 AUTOCEPHALOUS CHURCHES Polish independence centennial celebrated at the new Agia Sophia Orthodox Cathedral ▷3 ROMANIAN PATRIARCHATE Romanian Orthodox Church glorifies Wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God of Neamț Monastery ▷2 DIOCESES Bishop Veniamin ordained for Southern Bessarabia Diocese ▷2

During its working session held Thursday, May 24, the Holy Synod elected two bishops for the vacant episcopal sees in the Metropolis of Bessarabia and an assistant bishop to the Diocese of Maramures and Satmar.

The V. Rev. Archimandrite Veniamin Goreanu was elected Bishop for the Southern Bessarabia Diocese, and the Assistant Bishop to the Chisinau Archdiocese Antonie of Orhei was appointed Bishop of Bălți. During the same working session, the Holy Synod elected the V. Rev. Archimandrite Timotei Bel as assistant bishop to the Diocese of Maramures and Satm a r . ▶

P. 4: Patriarchal Cathedral’s dedication day

The Basilica News Agency has communicated the ‘good to know’ in words and pictures for 10 years: Patriarch Daniel

During the festivities held Monday, May 28, 2018, at the Patriarchal Palace, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel pointed out the missionary activity of the Basilica News Agency stressing that it has communicated the ‘good to know’ from the Romanian Patriarchate’s dioceses for 10 years.

The Basilica Media Centre has two patronal feasts, namely the feast of the Holy Trinity aka the Day of the Holy Spirit, and the Feast of Saint Demetrius the New, ▶ Protector of Bucharest, celebrated on October 27.

Holy and Great Council Minutes to be published soon - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew ▶ p. 3

B i s h o p Ve n i a m i n o r d a i n e d for Southern Bessarabia Diocese Bishop-elect Veniamin Goreanu was ordained Saturday to the Episcopate during the hierarchical Divine Liturgy presided at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.

Concelebrants for the Divine Liturgy included: Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, Archbishop Casian of Lower Danube, PATriArCh DANiel: Bishop Galaction of Alexandria and ‘We wish his Grace Bishop Teleorman, Bishop-elect Antonie of Veniamin of Southern Bălți, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bessarabia much help from Bishop Ieronim of Sinaia, and Auxiliary God and may he keep Bishop Timotei of Prahova. a great piety in his soul and After the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude serve the Church joyfully’.

Patriarch Daniel bestowed upon bp Veniamin the final liturgical items associated with episcopacy, the mantle and the pastoral staff.

In his speech, the Romanian Patriarch spoke about the significance of the hierarchical mantle and pastoral staff.

‘The mantle reminds of the teaching ministry’ the bishop has for the clergy and believers in his Diocese, and the capacity to have spiritual children or disciples, the patriarch noted.

Romanian Orthodox Church glorifies Wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God of Neamț Monastery

A new feast in honour of the Directress icon of the Mother of God from Neamț Monastery will be added to the liturgical calendar of the romanian Orthodox Church beginning with 2019.

The decision was taken Thursday by the holy Synod of the romanian Orthodox Church following the proposal of the Metropolitan Synod of Moldavia and Bukovina.

The holy Synod resolved that the new feast will be celebrated on July 9.

The Wonderworking icon of the Mother of God from Neamț Monastery is the oldest documented icon in romania, and considered the most valuable, from a historical and spiritual point of view.

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Holy and Great Council Minutes to be published soon, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew announces his All-holiness ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has announced that the minutes of the holy and Great Council held on the island of Crete in the summer of 2016 will soon be published.

The news came in the form of a message delivered to the 8th international Conference of Orthodox Theology on the theme, “The holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church: Orthodox Theology in the 21st century,” organized in Thessaloniki.

“The imminent publication of the Minutes of the holy and Great Council will provide all interested persons with an opportunity to become familiar with and appreciate the common concern of the ten participating Orthodox Autocephalous Churches for the realization and fulfillment of the conciliar effort in accordance with God’s will, as well as for a deeper theological conversation and the absolute respect regarding the canonical tradition of the Church,” the patriarch’s message reads. ▶

Polish independence centennial celebrated at the new Agia Sophia Orthodox Cathedral Only three years after the laying of the foundation stone, the first ever Divine Liturgy was celebrated Saturday, May 19, 2018, within the walls of Warsaw’s new Agia Sophia Orthodox Cathedral, marking the centennial of the regaining of Polish independence in 1918.

As reported by the website of the Polish Orthodox Church, the Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Sava of Warsaw and All Poland, with the concelebration of several hierarchs.

In his homily, Metropolitan Sava said that ‘standing within the walls of the building of the Holy Church of Agia Sophia—God’s Wisdom—in Warsaw, we realize the truth that Divine Providence governs the world, the Church, and every one of us.

‘Only it undertakes great works regarding the life of the Church and of every man, at a proper time and in proper ▶ circumstances.’

Romanian is second most common non-British nationality in UK Number of Romanian nationals living in UK in 2017 estimated to be 411,000, up 25% on 2016, The Guardian reports.

There are now more Romanians living in the UK than there are Irish nationals or Indians, official figures reveal.Romania has overtaken the Republic of Ireland and India to move from fourth to second most-common non-British nationality in the UK, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found.The number of Romanian nationals living in the UK in 2017 was estimated to be 411,000 – a jump of 25% on the previous year, and the largest increase for any country. ▶

May 2018 BASILICA Review

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Patriarch Daniel presided over Divine liturgy on Patriarchal Cathedral’s dedication day

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is Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church Monday presided over the Divine Liturgy at the outdoor altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral on the feast of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen, the Cathedrals’ patron saints.

Many believers attended the service on the Patriarchate’s Hill, having the opportunity to venerate the relics of Sts Constantine and Helen.

Concelebrants for the Divine Liturgy included His Eminence Archbishop Calinic of Arges and Muscel, the patriarchal auxiliary bishops Varlaam of Ploiesti and Ieronim of Sinaia, as well ans His Grace Timotei of Prahova, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest.

In his homily, the Romanian Patriarch recalled the profitable activity of the Holy Emperors for Christ’s Church.

His Beatitude offered St Helen as ‘an example of instructing mother’.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the patriarch awarded the winners of the ‘Union: Freedom and Unity’ Competition organized by the Romanian Patriarchate.

Founded in the 17th century by the Wallachian Ruler Prince Serban Cantacuzino, the Patriarchal Cathedral received in 2002 particles of the holy relics of Sts Constantine and Helen from the Kykkos Monastery in Cyprus, which are now placed for veneration inside the church.

More pictures on basilica.ro ▶ Believers attending the patronal feast of Bucharest’s Patriarchal Cathedral. Photo: Mircea Popa / Zl

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